Although minor, the edits add the Japanese government to a growing list of administrations and royal families around the world who have manipulated their official pictures, raising questions about how much official pictures can be trusted.
In March, a Mother’s Day portrait of Kate, the Princess of Wales, and her three children caused a global stir when international news agencies pulled the image after spotting various inconsistencies.
It was Kate’s first picture after her unspecified abdominal surgery in January and the subsequent lack of explanation and long recovery stirred up a modern conspiracy and inflamed conspiracy theories about her whereabouts.
Kate apologized for the confusion and said she was just experimenting with editing. Some in Japan were minded to be sympathetic to the government’s admission.
“It’s just an edit, give them a break,” one user on X wrote, commenting on the Japanese cabinet picture. “But if you’re going go ahead and do it, fix the creases in suit.”
Ishiba’s newly announced cabinet has also been criticized for gender inequality, with only two women in relatively minor roles in the 19-member team — down from five women in the outgoing cabinet.
A former defense minister, Ishiba took office last week after the governing Liberal Democratic Party elected him as its new leader.
Arata Yamamoto reported from Tokyo, and Mithil Aggarwal from Hong Kong.
